Parking Strategy for a Future Tacoma? ( 8. August 2007, 11:18 by Derek Young) ~ It All Comes Back to Parking...
Parking is what every downtown Tacoma development conversation tends to devolve into at some point. We have conflicting theories on parking coming from multiple stakeholders. We have short term needs. We have long term needs. Then there’s a question of funding…
Yesterday, City Manager Eric Anderson presented his preliminary vision for a long term parking strategy to the City Council Study Session. The plan includes both transit and parking ideals. Eliminate parking requirements where it makes sense. Charge people an appropriate amount for parking. Keep the money in the system. Build a streetcar system. Build parking garages on the edge of downtown. Make a city that’s both pedestrian and bicycle friendly.
A vision is starting to come together. When do we start rolling with it? How can we build on this conversation?
Link to The News Tribune and the BIA Blog
Poster by Beautiful Angle
Commenting Is Closed
Comments are allowed for two weeks from the posted date. If you want to make a comment or reopen this discussion, please contact us with your request. Thank you for visiting.
The city has come a longs ways since it first started talking about parking issues three years ago.
It is nice to see they they are finally looking at implementing some “best methods” for implementing a parking system.
Tacoma is finally moving toward a parking system that will both merchants, residents and visitors and permit the city to be able to start to be able to fill in empty lots and move from a suburban building code to a pedestrian friendly urban code.
Here’s the Parking Advisory Committee Report: Improving Downtown Transit and Parking:
Here’s how I would implement it:
1) The city council could adopt an ordinance as Redwood city did to set pricing policy to maintain a 15 percent occupancy:
2) City of Tacoma parking personnel would monitor occupancy in various area
3) Tacoma Parking Commission, which has a variety of stakeholders, would review the occupancy data.
4) Where there was sufficient demand in downtown, parking meters/pay stations would be implemented. Where there is insufficient demand, parking should remain free. (This would result in a majority of the city continuing to have free but monitored parking)
Prices would be adjusted periodically in the various downtown based on demand.
The best explanation on how parking rates should be set is on a video clip by Professor Donald Shoup.
With that said, there is going to be a learning curve. I think the best place to start the system would be around the Pierce County Courthouse as:
1) There is likely higher demand there for parking than any area in downtown.
2) There is little retail in the area that could would be disturbed.
The Google Earth application looks very nice. I think the Sixth Avenue businesses and residents would really support this plan. And it would rid the North Slope of so many ugly historic Craftsman houses!
All those bridges across Commencement Bay and the Sound make perfect sense. My only question is: why was South Tacoma and the East Side once again excluded? I’m sure they would love to be freewayed and parking lotted just like the North End.
Dig the poster.
Some parts of the city do not even have curbs or sidewalks, let alone bike lanes. I am hopeful smaller-scale improvement projects such as this — that would seemingly have an impact on the city as a whole and encourage walking — would be considered higher priority over some others.
4 | Posted by sparkrobot | Aug 8, 01:00 PM
I really hope that we dont get bike lanes, at least the American version anyway. Those separated bike paths we all hear they have in Amsterdam seem nice. After all, riding in bike lanes around here just means you’re more likely to run over glass that isnt cleaned up.
5 | Posted by Tacoma (A)roma | Aug 8, 01:26 PM
Let’s not pit one form of non-polluting, non-sprawl promoting transportation (bikes) against another (light rail or new street cars). Good planning for both can minimize necessary rail crossings on bike paths, and make those that are necessary safe — on the Seattle end of my bike commute I make a couple of non-scary rail crossings daily.
7 | Posted by michael g. | Aug 8, 06:11 PM
The tracks for the current “toy train” haven’t been a problem for me when I ride my bicycle. There are a couple of spots that I have to swing wide so I can hit them at a 90 degree angle. I can’t wait for a light rail to go up the hill, so when I feel lazy, I can ride up.
8 | Posted by Carla | Aug 9, 02:57 AM
I recall a time I thought it would be fun to go on a drunken night ride. It was pretty fun up until I got caught in the tracks on 15th & Commerce. Not only did I dislocate my shoulder, but the parking attendent at the Rainier Pacific building seemed to find the whole thing entertaining as hell.
9 | Posted by Tacoma (A)roma | Aug 9, 09:37 AM
Commenting is closed for this article.
